Skip to main content
Aquatic Preserves

North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve

NEWS     |     RESOURCES     |     CALENDAR

The aquatic preserve is located approximately 40 miles northwest of West Palm Beach. It is bounded to the north by Midway Road in White City. The southern boundary extends from Coconut Point in Stuart to Jenkins Point in Palm City, just west of the Roosevelt Bridge in Martin County. The eastern and western boundaries encompass state-owned sovereign submerged lands below the mean high water line. The preserve stretches for about 16 miles along the river's natural bends.

History

The St. Lucie River is divided into four sections: North Fork, South Fork, Middle Estuary and Lower Estuary. A 16-mile portion of the North Fork was designated as an aquatic preserve in 1972 to protect the aesthetic, biological and scientific value for future generations. 

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer Opportunities 

The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves provide a variety of volunteer opportunities including ecosystem science projects, restoration and spoil island activities. Volunteers help with activities such as wildlife monitoring, annual seagrass monitoring or microplastic sampling. On spoil islands, improve visitor access through activities such as invasive plant removal or installing picnic tables, fire rings or human waste bag dispensers.

For more information, please contact our office at IRLAP@FloridaDEP.gov. For other opportunities to help preserve the Indian River Lagoon and surrounding aquatic preserves, consider joining the Friends of the Spoil Islands.

Events

Please contact us at IRLAP@FloridaDEP.gov.

Educational Opportunities

  • Ecotour operations provide pontoon trips to educate visitors about the biology and ecology of the aquatic preserve.
  • Oxbow Eco-Center
Scientific Information

The earliest known settlers in the St. Lucie watershed were the Ais and Seminole Indians. The Ais were first documented in 1568 occupying lands adjacent to the St. Lucie River but were decimated by 1763 when the British took possession of Florida. After their disappearance, the Seminoles occupied Florida. The North Fork was used by the Seminole Indians as a transportation route linking the St. Lucie River area with the lower St. Johns River marshes to the northwest. The North Fork was also used in the Seminole Wars of the 1800s. Large military forces are believed to have traveled through this area during the 1838 winter campaign of General Jessup during the Second Seminole War. The earliest European settlements along the St. Lucie River date back to the 1890s at Spruce Bluff and White City. Spruce Bluff was the first organized non-Indian settlement. 

The geological formations underlying the North Fork, St. Lucie River Aquatic Preserve reflect a dynamic history shaped by marine and terrestrial influences. The preserve sits atop a foundation of four distinct surface geological formations: the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, the Eastern Valley, Green Ridge and the Osceola Plain. These formations comprise various layers of sand, clay and shell deposits, revealing past sea level fluctuations and the influence of ancient marine environments. Notably, the Pliocene formation, dating back over 5.3 million years, harbors an abundance of diverse fossils, highlighting the region's rich paleontological heritage. Beneath these surface formations lie the basement rocks of the Florida Platform, including Precambrian-Cambrian igneous rocks, Ordovician-Devonian sedimentary rocks and Triassic-Jurassic volcanic rocks, testament to the long and complex geological evolution of the area. 

Freshwater system upstream and a brackish system near the St. Lucie Estuary. The preserve is home to a diverse array of habitats, including freshwater tidal swamps, estuarine mangrove forests and oyster reefs.

Wildlife Habitat and Ecosystem Type
Aquatic preserves

Invertebrates
Oysters, horseshoe crab, blue crab

Nesting and Migrating Birds
Wading birds, sea birds, shore birds

Mammals
Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, manatees, bobcat, river otter, raccoon

Reptiles
Atlantic salt marsh snake, terrapin, sea turtle, American alligator

Fish
Snapper, snook, mullet, tarpon, drum, shrimp, opossum pipefish

Other Species
Seagrass; red, black and white mangroves; marsh grass

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts include protecting bird nesting areas, oyster reef restoration, seagrass restoration, hydrologic restoration, submerged aquatic vegetation restoration and public education and outreach.

Ongoing Research

Ongoing research includes a snook dietary study by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, fish spawning and plankton research by the South Florida Water Management District, the Estuarine Coastal and Ocean Science program and Florida Oceanographic Society (FOS), oyster cultivation and stocking research by FOS and benthic infaunal research by the Smithsonian Marine Station. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Year round, with winter being the coolest weather and calmer waters in the summer.

  • Ecotour operations provide pontoon trips to educate visitors about the biology and ecology of the aquatic preserve.
  • Oxbow Eco-Center

Yes. Aquatic preserves often are adjacent to other conservation areas that may have nesting birds or other easily disturbed wildlife.  Please do not let your pet run free in areas not designated for pets, and please pick up after your pet to avoid hazardous pathogens in our coastal waters.  

Follow current FWC saltwater fishing regulations.

Follow current FWC boating regulations.

Seagrass is protected within aquatic preserves; avoid shallow waters and raise motor if over seagrass. Damage to seagrass can result in a fine up to $1,000. 

Call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

ADA accommodations are specific to each access point and the managing entity for that site.  The Savannas Preserve State Park provides an ADA accessible kayak launch on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River at the Halpatiokee Nature Trail location. The entrance is on U.S. 1 in Port St. Lucie, south of Southeast Village Green Drive, about 3/4 mile north of Walton Road. The launch allows transfer system for moving from a wheelchair to a kayak or canoe, along with a pull-on/pull-off ramp and a paved parking area. Southeast Coral Reef Park and Petravis Family Preserve offer ADA accommodations as well.

There are no fees. Donations are accepted through Friends of the Spoil Islands.

Contact IRLAP@FloridaDEP.gov and visit Friends of the Spoil Islands.

Partner Groups

  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission